Sunday, November 16, 2008

In Cardinal Gibbons fourth straight championship appearance they left no question about who deserved the trophy. Winning 5-0 over the Shelby Golden Lions they set a record for the largest margin of victory ever in a 2A championship game. The Crusaders outshot the Golden Lions 26-5, and goalkeeper Eric Hamilton didn’t have to make a save to earn the team’s 16th shutout of the season.Cardinal Gibbons players celebrate after their 5-0 win over Shelby during the 2A NCHSAA Soccer Championship game on Nov. 16, 2008. (Photo by Grant Halverson) See the rest of his great photos here:http://www.highschoolot.com/content/image_gallery/3971693/

Hopes smothered for LionsShelby's Turner Almond, right, hugs teammate Ryan Bailey, after their loss in the state championship title game against Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh on Sunday.Brittany Randolph / The Star

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Kyle Luterbach of Fred T. Foard receives Player of the Year for the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference honors. Here's some video from his Spring Club season. Look close and you'll see more CVAC All Conference players on the field with Kyle.Congrats Kyle!

Friday, November 14, 2008

"The forecast for heavy rain throughout much of the next two days, along with concern over field conditions and safety with four games scheduled for the Curtis and Jackie Dail Soccer Stadium on the campus of North Carolina State University, forced the switch. Three games will now be played on Sunday and then the 4-A championship will be Monday night at 7 p.m."

Sunday, November 9, 2008

"Sexton gave most of the credit to goalkeeper Frankie Cardelle... Cardelle has spent most of the season stopping about four shots per game. In this win, shots were consistently peppered at him and the senior never flinched, stopping 21 Panther tries."

Saturday, November 8, 2008

"Forbush has won nine straight matches and took its only two losses on the road, against Reynolds early in the season and against Wilkes Central in a Mountain-Valley 2-A game. Forbush had a split in the regular season with Wilkes Central, which lost 2-1 to Shelby on Wednesday night.

Shelby is 15-0-2 in its last 17 matches and has scored 68 goals while allowing 14. The Lions' only losses came against Class 4-A and Class 3-A programs."Mason Linker, Winston-Salem Journal

Wilkes Central 3Ashe County 0Evan Love, Ashe’s keeper, comes off his line and punches this ball away from the ensuing Wilkes Central attacker during the Huskies’ season ending 3-0 loss Wednesday evening.(Post Photo/Michael Graybeal) Soccer ends historic season

Wilkes faces West Henderson

Newton-Conover 3North Henderson 1Michael Justus/Times-NewsNorth Henderson High School's Tito Maciel boxes in the ball during a game against Newton-Conover High School Wednesday at North. At right is Newton-Conover's Carlos Lopez.

Smoky Mountain 3Draughn 1Jarrod Couch had two goals, including the go-ahead score two minutes into the second half, to help the Mustangs advance to the second round.Couch struck first on a pass from Richard Ramirez 30 seconds after Draughn took the lead in the first half. After halftime, Rodrigo Nogal assisted Couch on the second score. Paul Ulrich added the insurance goal in the 49th minute.

Patton got its goal from Khue Lane off an assist from Vince Thao to tie the game.

Fred T. Foard 8Bunker Hill 0

Luterbach scores four more with Kyle Lloyd, Corey Wiles, Brodie Ruffner and Logan Meyer each scoring a goal.

Newton-Conover 3 OTWest Caldwell 2 Warriors fall in OTWest Caldwell rallied to push the game into OT with two goals from Martir Lopez. Zack Mellon had one goal for N-C and Oscar Luis had two, including the game winner in the second overtime period.

Watauga’s Jennings Rex (middle) works between two Freedom defenders before scoring his first goal Monday night. Watauga’s Jennings Rex (middle) works between two Freedom defenders before scoring his first goal Monday night. Photo by Mark Mitchell

Donnie Roberts/The DispatchWest Davidson goal keeper Nic Gregg leaps high to make a save over Salisbury's Dustin Presnell (2) during their rain-soaked CCC match in Tyro on Wednesday as West's Josh Burkhart trails the play.Hornets take command in CCCDavidson County Dispatch 10/09

Lincolnton sophomore Moises Pena had one of the Wolves five goals Wednesday as they defeated rival West Lincoln 5-0. File / LTN Photo

South Johnston standout Edgar Herrera (9) celebrates his goal with teammate Miguel Uriate in his team's 1-all tie with Harnett Central. Herrera was playing his first match of the season after missing more than a month with a knee injury.Herald photo by Lawrence HillikerHarnett Central tie South JohnstonJohnston County Herald 10/07

Saturday, October 11, 2008

With a 6-1 rout of Cuba tonight the Americans (4-0) already have secured a berth in next year's six-nation finals of the North and Central American and Caribbean region. The top three will qualify for the World Cup in 2010.

In honor of Onyewu scoring the last goal in stoppage and to answer any questions about why he would want to play in Belgium, here's a picture of Gooch and long time girlfriend.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Sasha Lines scores a second half goal to give the Indians a win and move St. Stephens to within a game of second place Hibriten. Hibriten is now 11-3 in conference play with four matches remaining.

Fred T. Foard 3Newton-Conover 2

Kyle Luterbach scores two for Foard (what a shock!). Oscar Martin had the other goal for the Tigers.N-C Actually had a one goal lead early on with a Chris Jordan Goal. Oscar Luis had the other Red Devil goal when he scored on a DFK with about five minutes remaining in the game.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Thomas Lunford and Michael Young each scored twice for Bandys. Austin Brady and Greg Adams added the other goals for the Trojans.Jesus Rodriquez scored Bunker Hill's only goal.

Hickory 7Maiden 0

Seven different players scored in the Red Tornadoes win over Maiden. Taylor Walker, Tucker Broome, Drake Fisher, Trevor Lauber, Tony Xiong, Cody Miller and tyler Smith each put one in the back of the net.

In the tenth minute Jule Picton buried a snap header from a Tanner Sinclair cross.two minutes and fifty seconds later the score was 3-0. Sinclair sored and Picton finished another one making a large hill for the Red Devils to climb. Sinclair tallied his second goal four minutes into the second half. Miguel Aquilar and Travis Cole finished off the scoring for Hibriten.

Maiden 4Bunker Hill 1

Maiden was led with two goals from Oscar Chavez. Jonathan Blankenship and Jesus Garcia finished out the scoring for the Blue Devils. Hunter Ardrey had Bunker Hill's lone goal.

Regardless of the photo above we all know that great defense doesn't just come from the players whose position is listed as 'defender'. A championship defense starts with strikers pressuring the ball and cutting off passing lanes. It comes from midfielders checking back and getting behind the ball. It takes team communication and making the opponents play predictable. It requires marking backs able to take a 'star' out of their game. Finally leadership is required to keep everyone organized and let's not forget a keeper to make a couple of big saves a game.On all counts Hibriten is in good 'shape' this season

Tanner Sinclair of Hibriten tries to steal the ball from Chase Crone of Hickory. Hickory defeated Hibriten 1-0 to remain in sole possession of first place in the Catawba Valley Athletic 2A-3A Conference.Hickory Red Tornadoes outlasted the Hibriten Panthers 1-0Hickory Daily Record 9/23